Good morning, East Tennessee!
Happy Monday and Happy Labor Day. Hopefully, you’re enjoying the long weekend with a cup of coffee in hand—maybe even in one of those eastTNweather mugs—and taking a moment to relax. For those of you still working today, I’m right there with you. Let’s walk through your Labor Day forecast and see what’s in store for the rest of this week.
A Mild Start to September
Welcome to September 1st! It’s the official start of meteorological fall, and East Tennessee is beginning the month on a mild, comfortable note.
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Morning temperatures: Starting out in the 50s and 60s, just a bit warmer than yesterday. The Southern Valley is holding onto the warmest readings, while the Plateau and Smokies woke up cooler.
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Skies: A mix of sun and high clouds this morning, very similar to yesterday. Clouds will scatter out for a while, then rebuild later in the day.
Labor Day Forecast: Spotty Showers Mainly on the Plateau
For most of us, today is a dry day with pleasant conditions, but there will be pockets of showers and thunderstorms to keep in mind—especially west of Knoxville.
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Afternoon: Moisture shifts westward, with the Cumberland Plateau favored for showers and thunderstorms. Places like Crossville, Pikeville, and Jamestown may see some activity.
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Elsewhere: Knoxville and much of the Valley stay mainly dry, though a stray storm can’t be ruled out.
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Rain coverage: About a 30% chance overall, with most spots avoiding rain altogether.
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Highs: Upper 70s to low 80s, running nearly 10° below the seasonal average of 87°.
So, your Labor Day outdoor plans are still in good shape—just be mindful if you’re west of I-40.
Evening Forecast: Comfortable & Pleasant
By this evening, temperatures slide down:
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Around 78° by 6 PM
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Near 68° by 10 PM
Perfect weather for fireworks, cookouts, or winding down the long weekend outside.
The Week Ahead: Two Cold Fronts on the Way
Labor Day may be mild, but the real story comes mid to late week with two cold fronts sweeping across East Tennessee.
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Tuesday: A few more scattered showers and storms develop with waves of energy in the northwest flow.
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Wednesday: Rain chances increase further. Expect more widespread activity as another disturbance rolls through.
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Thursday: A stronger cold front arrives, bringing showers and thunderstorms area-wide. By Thursday evening, most of us will have picked up some decent rainfall. Totals through midweek should land around ½ inch or more, especially on the Plateau.
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Friday–Saturday: A secondary cold front reinforces the cooler, drier air.
Dew Points & Comfort Levels
Humidity levels tell the comfort story this week:
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Through Thursday: Dew points remain elevated, keeping mornings mild and afternoons slightly sticky.
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Friday into Saturday: Dew points fall sharply as dry air pushes in.
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Weekend Outlook: Crisp mornings in the 50s return by Sunday and Monday, giving us another refreshing taste of false fall.
7 Day Forecast Highlights
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Monday (Labor Day): Upper 70s–low 80s, spotty storms on the Plateau, mostly dry elsewhere
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Tuesday–Wednesday: Increasing rain chances, scattered showers and storms
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Thursday: Cold front brings widespread rain and storms, highs still below average
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Friday–Saturday: Secondary front ushers in drier, cooler air
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Sunday–Monday: Sunshine, cool mornings in the 50s, highs in the 70s—picture-perfect early fall preview
Weather Headlines
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️ Labor Day: Mostly dry, spotty storms Plateau, highs in low 80s
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️ Midweek: Daily rain chances rise Tuesday–Thursday
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⛈️ Thursday Cold Front: Widespread storms likely, decent rainfall totals
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️ Late Week: Secondary front drops dew points & humidity
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Next Weekend: Sunshine, cool mornings, another taste of fall
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE 7 DAY FORECAST
Final Words
Labor Day across East Tennessee looks great overall—mild, comfortable, and mostly dry. Only the Plateau has a real shot at scattered afternoon showers and storms. As we head deeper into the first week of September, rain chances climb midweek, capped off by a Thursday cold front that brings widespread storms. But by Friday and Saturday, another front clears us out, setting up a beautiful, fall-like weekend with sunshine, low humidity, and crisp mornings.
Don’t forget, you can track every shower and storm with the eastTNweather app. From interactive radar to lightning alerts, it’s your go-to tool across Knoxville, the Plateau, and the Smokies.
Have a great Labor Day Monday, and I’ll see you back here with updates throughout the day.